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No decision on maternity services in west/northwest

A review of existing maternity services is under way at hospitals in the West/North West area

The HSE's West/North West Hospitals Group has said no decision has been made to close or reconfigure maternity services in the region.

In a statement this afternoon, the group's Chief Executive Bill Maher emphasised that any reconfiguration would only take place as part of a national review of obstetric units.

Mr Maher said a review of existing maternity services was under way at Portiuncula Hospital Ballinasloe, University Hospital Galway, Mayo General Hospital, Sligo Regional Hospital and Letterkenny General Hospital.

However, he said this process was at a very early stage.

The board of the hospital group has agreed to hold public and staff consultations in relation to the provision of midwife-led care at existing maternity units. This process is now under way.

The national review of maternity services will be led by the Department of Health.

It is being instigated on foot of the Health Information and Quality Authority report into the care provided to Savita Halappanavar at Galway University Hospital.